Can Grandma's china be washed in the dishwasher?

Dishes made from porcelain can be washed in the dishwasher, but there are exceptions to this rule. Cups and plates made of expensive material are highly fragile and do not like temperature changes and the aggressive effects of detergents.

In this article, I will tell you which dishes can be safely put in the dishwasher, and in which cases it is better to wash valuable cups and plates by hand.

What porcelain is dishwasher safe?

First, carefully examine the set and remember how many years it has been in the family. If this is an inheritance left after a great-grandmother, then you will have to forget about machine washing: fragile dishes simply will not survive it.

Set aside cups and saucers with gilded, subtle colored designs. Under the influence of powerful pressure of water and detergent with abrasive particles, all beauty will quickly fade and be erased.

Bone china products marked “Bone China” or a special symbol allowing machine washing are suitable for the dishwasher. As a rule, such sets were released relatively recently, within the last 10–15 years.

What is important to remember?

Remember, you can't just dump your dirty china plates into the dishwasher, run the program, and go about your business. In this case, after stopping the unit, you will receive dishes with broken edges and a very faded pattern.

Before you start putting dirty dishes into the machine, it is important to do the following:

1. Immediately after eating, rinse plates and cups, trying to rid them of any remaining food. Carefully remove stuck pieces with a rubber spatula so as not to damage the valuable material.
2. Place a special silicone mat in the dishwasher to prevent saucers and plates from slipping or hitting each other while washing.
3. Load dishes so that they do not touch each other. Place the cups on the top pull-out shelf away from each other.
4. Cutlery and other kitchen utensils should not be washed together with porcelain. Under the influence of strong water pressure, foreign objects can damage valuable service.
5. Choose a delicate washing program. The water temperature should not be higher than 50 degrees. If your machine has this option, turn off the drying and steaming function in advance (otherwise you will have to cancel the program manually before the corresponding indicator lights up). Porcelain does not like temperature changes, it cracks, so after washing it must be allowed to cool and then dried in the open air.
6. Pay attention to the detergent. It should be only a gel, without abrasive particles and bleach or acids in the composition. Aggressive components can scratch fragile dishes and render their design or ornament unusable.

If all the above conditions are met, then carefully load the porcelain dishes into the machine and start the delicate cycle.

After washing is completed, remove the set and carefully place it on a kitchen towel, allowing excess water to drain. Then gently dry the cups and plates with a soft cloth. Now the service can be put away for storage.

Although bone china is dishwasher-safe, I don't recommend doing it too often. It is better to wash fragile and expensive dishes by hand. This will preserve its appearance and protect it from cracks and chips.

Svetlana Kotova, housewife